Do me a favor a take a quick look around the desk you are likely sitting at right now. Is it somewhat lacking in the “cute” department? Does it have a picture of someone you love on it? The odds are pretty good that the picture frame holding that photo pales in comparison to the image. That’s as it should be…to a point. I’ve realized that most of the frames I own are quite simply dull and don’t add any color, texture or fun to my desk (both at work and at home!).

Well that’s all about to change, thanks to my next Memphis in May featured artist, Erin. Erin owns a wonderful Etsy shop called Round the Bend. This store features absolutely beautiful frames of various sizes. Erin loves any opportunity to express her creativity, but her very favorite thing to make are the small frames with paper. She says, “There are so many pretty papers available, I love going to the scrapbook store and searching for ones that I think would look great. Plus, I can make so many different styles – modern, formal, girly, young, bright, etc, that hopefully everyone can find something that appeals to them.” I have to agree…there’s something for everyone at Round the Bend! Erin also really enjoys making things for her kids such as playmats, bibs and blankets. Those will likely be making an appearance in her shop soon, so stay on the lookout!

Erin sent me a 3.5 x 3.5 transportation frame to check out. This was perfect for our family, because Tim is a Transportation Planner! It now sits on his desk and has the cutest picture of Darah in it. Erin decorated the frame using really cool paper. The back and sides are painted black, and the front has been painted over with acrylic sealer. The end result is a very smooth and glossy finish. I can tell that this frame is going to hold up beautifully for years to come. Tim absolutely loves it, and it is so much cooler than anything I could have found at TJ Maxx (which is the brick and mortar store with the best frames, in my opinion). The price tag for these frames also rivals that of TJ, starting at just $12.00. I don’t know any other place where can you get such a cute product that is handmade with pride for such a bargain. On my current wish list is a fabulous tweet tweet frame, which looks just perfect for Darah’s nursery.

Since Erin has a husband and two sons, she gravitates towards pinks and pastels in her creative work. With that said, however, she really enjoys working with people to create custom designs that meet their needs. If you are looking for something in particular to help add to your home decor, whether it be the girliest of girly looks or something more masculine, Erin can help you out!

Erin is a native Memphian, having lived her almost her entire life. She’s lived in east Memphis, Cordova, Midtown and Arlington, so she’s really been all over the area! She loves the diversity she has found in each part of the city. She also says, “I love the small community feel in each of the different parts of Memphis, but still having access to all the big city amenities, especially the Zoo, Shelby Farms, and the sports (go Tigers!). Plus you can’t beat the beauty of the dogwoods and azaleas at this time of year. Gorgeous!” I have to agree with her. Memphis is positively splendid right now, crazy flash floods aside…

Buy It! During the giveaway, Erin is offering readers a 20% discount for any purchase. That is so awesome! If you have a beautiful picture that is just waiting for a beautiful frame, now’s the perfect opportunity to buy one. At checkout, include “Memphis” in your note to seller and 20% will be refunded to you after payment is made.

Win it! Erin wants to offer one Stuff Parents Need winner a 3.5 x3.5 frame of your own from the ones currently listed. So exciting! The contest will run until Friday, May 21st at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me which 3.5 x 3.5 frame you would choose if you are the winner (and choose wisely, as the winner will receive what s/he selects for this entry!).

Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Add Round the Bend to your Etsy favorites
4. Become a Fan of Round the Bend on Facebook
5. If you left a Memphis in May comment on this post before May 2nd, leave a comment for an extra entry

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

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Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]